An Aston Martin Virage Silver (61 plate) being auctioned off by Titan on eBay.

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Detectives have been given a licence to sell - by flogging a James Bond-style Aston Martin, seized by police, on eBay.

North west crime-fighting agency Titan is auctioning off more than £100,000 of cars seized during investigations.

They include an £80,000 silver Aston Martin - seized in Salford - plus a slightly less flash blue Vauxhall Vectra, on for £3,350.

A BMW 120 convertible will also be sold off with them, listed at £13,765.

The M.E.N. reported last year how the organised crime unit had begun to use eBay to sell off proceeds of crime taken from north west villains.

They have already flogged a diamond set worth £9,500 and a white gold diamond-set bracelet worth £3,900 - with the income then shared between the police, CPS, courts and the government.

But it is the first time Titan has sold off a sports car.

A Vauxhall Vectra Navy Blue (56 plate) being auctioned off by Titan on eBay

Detective Superintendent Jason Hudson, Head of Operations, said it represented a ‘big step forward’ for the eBay initiative.

Titan hope to get thousands more for the cars than through a conventional sale, he said, adding: “We are using existing legislation to seize assets but instead of a traditional auction where there are costs and fees involved - and you only reach a small market - we are increasingly using our eBay shop on the Titan website to reach a far wider set of buyers.

A BMW 120I SE Auto Silver being auctioned off by Titan on eBay

“The Aston Martin is a particularly nice car and obviously comes with the prestige of being the car of choice for a certain Mr James Bond. “I’m sure plenty of people will be keen to view it via our website and be tempted to put a bid in.

“The BMW and Vectra are also good cars, of course, and I’m pleased and also relieved that our seller rating is high and that previous customers have had a good experience.”

Titan currently has more than 25 cars it hopes to sell over the next year, with vehicles to ‘suit all budgets’, he said.